Hof Group

Nonlinear Dynamics and Turbulence

Björn Hof and his research group investigate how complex chaotic dynamics develop in nonlinear systems. Fluid turbulence is probably the most common and at the same time most relevant example of spatio-temporal disorder in nature. Despite its ubiquity, insights into this phenomenon are very limited. While the majority of turbulence research is concerned with statistical properties at very high velocities, our approach is to investigate turbulence when it first arises from laminar motion. We combine detailed laboratory experiments with highly resolved computer simulations and apply methods from nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics. Doing so enables us to decipher key aspects of the transition scenario and identify universal features shared with out of equilibrium systems in many other areas of physics. In some cases the new insights obtained can be directly applied to control turbulent flows and we actively develop such methods. Overall we hope that our approach will eventually lead to a more fundamental understanding of the nature of turbulence, going beyond a purely statistical view.

Further projects currently investigated in our group are concerned with complex fluids such as polymer solutions, surfactants and bacterial suspensions. While at low concentrations the dynamics are similar to those of ordinary fluids, after a certain threshold the dynamics often change abruptly giving rise to unexpected phenomena.

Since 2013 Professor, IST Austria2007-2013 Research group leader, MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany2005-2007 Lecturer, University of Manchester, UK2003-2005 Research Associate, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands2001 PhD, University of Manchester, UK